Press operating mechanism



Oct. 19, 1937. J M, DEWEY 2,096,575

PRESS OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1935 2 sheets-shew` 1 INVENTOR JAMES M. DEWEY ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1937. 1 M DEWEY 2,096,575

PRES S OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eto-2 NVENTOR y JAMES M. DEwEY Patented Oct. 19, 1937 The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, ancorporation of Ohio Application Juna 1935, serial-No. 26,119

4 claimt.` (o1. :is-'25) This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type used in laundry and garment work and.

to an improved control mechanism therefor..-

My invention provides a pair of coacting press 5 ing members, each movable toward the other, one of the members being preliminarily movable into position adjacent the other and thereafter the other member is moved into nal heavy pressure engagement therewith. Power means is provided for the preliminary movement of the one member, the power means acting with low power during the first portion of the preliminary move-V4 ment and with high power during the latter portion of said movement.

My improved pressing machine provides in a pressing machine of the type just described a cylinder and piston motor of relatively small diameter and long stroke for preliminarily moving one of the pressing members into its final posi- 2O tion, the motor being connected with its associated pressing member by two different motion transmitting mechanisms. One of these motion transmitting mechanisms is effective during the early part of the motor stroke to position the pressing member in its final position and is of low power. mechanism is effective during the vlatter part of the motor stroke and is of high power and sumcient to resist the final pressure between the pressing members.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a pressing machine, one of Whose pressing members comprises a flexible, distensible and fluid-impervious member underlying the pressing surface thereof and distensible to cause iinal pressure engagement between the pressing members. Combined with this type of pressing member I provide a coacting member with lowjpower means for moving the coacting member into position adjacent the distensible member and high power means for holding the coacting member in that position while the distensible member applies iinal pressure against it.

My improved control mechanism provides a pressing machine of the type described in which the movement of the pressing members into nal pressure engagement is automatically initiated after the high power mechanism effectively holds the coacting member in its nal position. Other features of my invention include spaced safety manuals for controlling the preliminary movement of the pressing members into position adjacent each other, means for maintaining the two-hand controls in actuated position while nal pressure is applied, and novel meansfor The other motion transmitting.

automatically initiating the application of final pressure.

In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a pressing machine embodying my invention, with the pressing members in open position and showing the control mechanismV diagrammatically; while Fig. 2is a similar view showing the pressing members in' closed position.

The drawings illustrate Aa pressing machine comprising a frame Il! upon which is mounted a pressing bed II with which a pressing head I2 Y coacts. The pressing head is carried by a head lever VI3 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at I4 on a frame bracket Illa. The pressing members yshown are particularly adapted for pressing articles such as mens shirts wherein the sides of the shirt or portions thereof may be ironed by the depending side portions I2a of the head coacting with suitable portions of the bed, but my invention is applicable to other types of pressing members, as will be readily understood. Means, not shown, may be provided for heating one or both of the pressing members as desired.:

Means is provided for moving theY pressing head into its final position adjacent the pressing bed. This means comprises a power means connected with the head lever by two motion transmitting mechanisms, one of greater mechanical advantage than the other, the connection of lesser mechanical advantage being utilized during the first portion of the Yhead movement fromopen toward its nal position and the high power mechanism becoming effective during the latter portion of the head movement. It results from this arrangement that a cylinder and 'piston' motor I5 may be utilized of a relatively small diameter and relatively long stroke, the motor having sufficient power during the early part of its stroke to move the head almost into its final position but which, without other provision, would be insufficient to hold the head in its iinal position when .pressure is applied through the bed. However, toward the end of the stroke of the motor I5 a leverage of greater mechanical advantage becomes effective which is sufficient to hold the head in place during the final pressing action. The mechanism shown comprises a cylinder I5a in which reciprocates a piston I5b who-se'piston rod I5c is pivotally connected at I6 with the longer arm Ila of a bellcrank I'I which is pivotally mounted on the rear endfof the head lever 'at I8. The shorter arm 'I'Ib ofthe bellcrank carries a. follower I9 which cooperates with a cam 2i) on a portion of the frame lil. This cam 20 has. a portion 20a and a portion Zb, the action of which will be later described. A tension spring 2I is connected between a portion of lever I3 and bellcrank lever I'i to bias the bellcrank in a clockwise direction. A spring 22 connected between the rear end of the head lever and a portion of the frame biases the pressing head tow-ard its open position. Springs 23 and 2&3 cushion the movement of piston |51; at the opposite ends of its stroke.

The fluid supply for motor i is by way of conduit 25, valve casings 26 and 21, and conduits 28 and 29. Valve casing 26 yhouses a normally closed inlet valve 25a and a normally open outlety valve 26h mounted on a common stem 26e an'd actuable by manual 25d. A spring 26e biases the valves toward their normal position andra servo motor 26]' when actuated holds the valves in their operated position. Valve casing 21 houses a normally open outlet valve 21a on a stem 2lbI and actuable by a manual 21C. A spring 21d biases this valve toward its normal position and a servo motor 27e when energized holds thevalve in its operated position. Manuals 26d and 21e are so spaced as to require the use of two hands of an operator to actuate them and both must be actuated simultaneously to energize motor I5 as will presently appear. Means is provided for holding the valves in casings 26 and 2T in their operated position upon movement of the head into its final position adjacent the bed. The means shown comprises a port 30 in cylinder |511, which is uncovered by piston |513 as it reaches the end of its stroke. A conduit 3| has branches lilal and SIb which conduct pressure uid from port 30 to servo motors 26]* and 21e to hold the valves in operated position after piston |51)` has passed port 3Q on its power stroke.

Various means might be utilized for causing final pressure engagement between the pressing members, but in the form shown the pressing bed comprises a supporting member Ila and in spaced relation therewith a flexible, distensible and substantially fluid-impervious coverf member IIb which underlies substantially the entire pressing surface of the bed andI is secured a't its edges in fluid-tight relation to the member Ila as, for instance, by suitable strips llc. It is understood that the member II b might contact an article to be processed either directly or through suitable padding, as desired. The fluid supply to the space I ld beneath the cover member is by way of conduit 35 through which a flow of pressure fluid is initiated automatically upon the pressing head reaching its nal position. as Wi-ll be next described.

Means is provided for automatically raising the pressing surface of the bed into pressure engagement with the head when the latter has reached its final position, that is to say, when the high power mechanism has become effective to hold the head in its nal position. The means shown comprises a device rendered effective during the latter portion of the stroke of piston I5b and in the present instance the port 30 is utilized forthis second function in addition to the maintaining function just described. The device for thus initiating movement of the bed pressing member comprises a valve casing 32 which is similar to valve casing 2B and the parts have been similarly designated. However, in the construction shown in casing 32 no manual has 'been provided for operation of this device but instead a lever 33 transmits motion of .servo motor 32j to valve stem 32e to actuate the valves to their on position. The valves in casing 32 are supplied With motive fluid by conduit 34 connected with conduit 25 or other suitable source of power. Usually a reducing valve 34a will be provided in conduit 34 to reduce the pressure of the fluid supplied to the inflatable cover member. Servo motor 32f is energized by the conduit connection 3Ic with conduit 3| after piston |527 has opened port 30.

With the parts in they position of Fig. l, the operation of the vmechanism is as follows: The operator places an article in position upon the pressing bed and actuates the manuals 26d and 2Ic tothe position shown in Fig. 2. Pressure iiuid flows through conduit 25, valve casing 26 and conduits 28 and 29 to cylinder |511.. At this time valve 21a must be held in its operated position or fluid will escape without effect upon motor I5. During' the first portion of power stroke of piston |5b, power is applied at the point I and has a tendency to rotate the bellcrank II in a counterclockwise direction. However, such rotation of the bellcrank is resisted by the engagement of follower I9 against the cam portion .Ea. crank I1 and head lever I3 therefore move as a unit about the pivot I4, the leverage applied at this time being that due to the lever arm between the points I4 and I6. This continues until the head I2 has nearly reached its nal position at 5* which time follower I9 passes the heel of cam 20 so that the follower engages the cam portion h. The follower I9 now becomes the fulcrum for bellcrank I 'I and the final movement of piston |5b applies a powerful leverage to the head lever at the' point I8. This moves the pressing head and its associated parts to the position of Fig. 2. As piston |517 passed the port 35, motive iiuid passed therethrough and by Way of conduits 3| and 3Ic to servo motor 321" actuating the valvesV in casing 32 to their on position as shown in Fig. 2, thus permitting a flow of pressure fluid through conduits and 34, valve casing 32 and conduit 35 to the space Ild beneath the cover memberY I Ib, raising the pressing surface of the bed into pressure engagement with the head. When motive fluid was supplied to conduit 3| through port 30, pressure was applied through conduits 3|a and 3|b to the servo motors 25]q and 22e to hold the valves in casings 26 and 2T in their operated positions.

To open the press, the operator moves manual 26d or 21e or both, against the action of the respective servo motors which will exhaust motive fluid through Valve 26h or valve 21a` or both. This evacuates cylinder |5a, as the result of which spring 2| rst becomes effective to cause a clockwise movement of bellcrank I'l with respect to headr lever |3 and when follower I9 has passed from cam portion 20h to cam portion 20a., spring 22 becomes effective to rotate the head lever in counterclockwise direction until the parts come to rest in the position of Fig. 1. The first release of pressure iiuid through valve 2Gb or Valve 21a reduces the holding effect in motor 32f and permits spring 32e to start valves 32a and 32h toward their off position, thus partly relieving the pressure beneath cover member IIb. Means is provided for the evacuation of uid from the left-hand end of cylinder |5a preferably by providing a leak port I5@ in the rear end of cylinder I5a. Therefore, as soon as piston |5b has passed port on its return stroke, servo motor 32j is completely exhausted and spring 32e returns valves 32a and- 326 to the position of Fig. 1

Bellwhich cuts oi the supply of motive fluid to the bed. This occurs before the head has retreated an appreciable distance from the bed. It results from this arrangement that pressure fluid is supplied beneath the cover member llb in effective amounts only when the pressing head is in position to limit the amount of cover distension so that the cover member is not ruptured.

My improved construction thus supplies a yielding uid pressure cushion for holding the head in its nal position while pressure is applied by way of the bed. Also, the motor l may be so constructed that while its power is sufficient through therst acting leverage acting on the arm represented by the distance betwen points I4 and I6, to move the head into its final position, it would be insuicient to hold the head there against the pressure exerted by the bed. However, the second acting leverage exerted about the fulcrum between follower I9 and cam portion 20h is suicient to resist the nal pressure. It results from this construction that I am able to make satisfactory use of a cylinder and piston motor of relatively low power.

What I claim is:

l. In a pressing machine, a frame, a head lever carried thereby, a pressing head movable by said lever from open to nal position, a pressing bed including a flexible distensible cover member for moving substantially the entire pressing surface of said bed into engagement with said head when the latter is in its iinal position, a cylinder and piston motor having operative connections with said head lever of two different leverages, said connections including lowand high-power leverages eiective respectively during early and late portions of said piston stroke, said lmotor acting through said low-power leverage being insuiiicient to resist pressure engagement of said 40 bed against said head, iiuid supply means for said motor, control means therefor, fluid actuated maintaining means for holding said control means in operated position, and means for simultaneously supplying fluid to said maintaining means and 45 to said cover member to distend the same after said high power leverage becomes effective.

2. In a pressing machine, a frame, a head lever carried thereby, a pressing head movable by said lever from open to final position, a pressing bed 50 including a exible distensible cover member for moving substantially the entire pressing surface of said bed into engagement with said head when the latter is in its nal position, a cylinder and piston motor having operative connections with said head lever for moving said head into final position, fluid supply means for said motor, co-ntrol means therefor, fluid actuated maintaining means for holding said control means in operated position, fluid supply means for distending said cover member including a uid actuated control device, a port in said cylinder adapted to be opened by said piston upon reaching that portion of its stroke wherein said head is placed in final position, and an open conduit connecting said port with said control device and with said maintaining means.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting pressing members each movable toward the other, a cylinder and piston motor for moving one of said members from open position to final position and for holding it there, fluid supply means for said motor, control meaiisfor said fluid supply means, uid actuated maintaining means for holding said control means in operated position, fluid pressure actuated means for moving said other member into pressure engagement with said one member, a port in said cylinder adapted to'be uncovered upon predetermined movement of said means, fluid actuated maintaining means for Y holding said control means in operated position, a flexible distensible and substantially fluid-impervious cover member for raising the entire pressing surface of said other member into engagement with said one member,V a fluid supply for said cover member, a iluid pressure actuated control device for said fluid supply, a port in said cylinder adapted to be uncovered upon movement of said one member into final position, and anopen conduit connecting said port with said control device and with said maintaining means.

JAMES M. DEWEY. 

